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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMEEIOA. 



U/aysid^ 



Papsies. 



By 

j^du/ard preiber(^er. 



i 






*i 



Wayside Pansies 



BY 



EDWARD FREIBERGER 



Washikgton New York Chicago 
Brentano's, Publishers, 




7^ n>^ 



Copyright, i858. 

FY 

EDWARD FREIBERGER. 



FOR 

ARE 
GATHERED, 



1 



CONTENTS, 



Flora's Favors 7 

"Elaine" - - - 9 

At Beauty's Touch i7 

Spring ^9 

Mia Stella 21 

The Mystic Voice 23 

A Birthday Greeting 25 

To a Debutante 27 

An Ideal Feast 29 

After the Fete 3i 

Inspiration - - 33 

Via Vit^ 35 

Life's Beacons 37 

Change 39 

My Silver Drinking Flask 4^ 

Grace 43 

Adelaide 45 

Roberta and Adele 47 

The Language of the Heart 49 

Florine ■ ■ " 5^ 



floras 5^^^^^^^' 



i88S. 



I would that I ruled Flora, queen of flowers. 
To bid her lay her kingdom at thy feet, 
To bring thee bliss, to give thee gladness sweet, 

To lead thy \va\- through beauty-lailen bowers. 

Not only pansies then would bright thy hours, 
But violets, too, froni many a fair retreat 
Where modesty and thought in concord meet, 

To rain their sentiments in gentle showers. 

The lilies pure would ever seek thy face 
To gain thy beauty's favor, and to prove 

Their lives and thine a wondrous garden plot 

Of living joy. the halo of thy grace. 

I'd crown thee last with roses, rich in love, 
Then humbly pra>- to thee: '^Forget-me-not." 



TO ANNIE RUSSELL. 

A view at early morn : The vast expanse 

Of firmament is burdened with a mass 

Of nimbus clouds, so dense they drape the earth 

As with a pall, so dark all hope of li^ht 

Seems dead. The sorrowed world in silence 

mourns 
Its loss. But suddenly behold a small 
And humble ray, the sun's sure messenger 
That rends the gloom, then quickly grows in 

strength. 
And, battling with the clouds, dispels them soon, 
Thus shedding on the earth the glorious boon 
Of joy-bequeathing day ; so in that world 
Where life and poesy make consonance, 
When clouds of unbelief in human kind 
Eclipse the precious faith of heavenly grace,— 
The past a dream of longings unfulfilled, 
The present void of every bliss, bereft 
Of earthly good and peace ; the future dread 
An idle fantasy, in hope a blank — i 



A welcome ^ieam of hope the darkness breaks, 

And, tender, waxes stroni:( until the world 

Finds rescue in the worth of woman's love. 

This j^ieam of love is but a poet's thought, 

So simple, pure, vet stroni^, a maj^ic warmth 

It gives unto the soul as does the sun 

Unto the budding summer ilowers. Thus clear 

From depths of thought, from dreamy realms of 

love 
Dotli rise the offspring of the poet's mind, 
A being pure as whitest clouds that light 
The highest mountain peaks and shame tlie snow 
Upon the vale beneath ; so joyous, fair, 
Hiat ecstacy it gives to gentleness : 
So full of virgin love that Eros lays 
His arrows at this fancy's shrine and pays 
Such homage true; as to an angel would 
A child. 

Thus England's noble laureate, 
His soul impreguant'with exalted thought 
Of woman's simple glory, noble faith 
And love, as oft insj)ired chi\;dr\' 
In storied days of old, in jo)' gave birth 
To an ideal, tender, true and fair, 
So unpretentious yet all-powerful. 
It lives and }'>ines and lo\es. It lias its hopes 



And sutferiiigs and then in death lives on, 

Its unreqnited lo\c tlic threnod}^ 

That moans of death, of death tlie goal of love : 

'' Elaine the fair, Elaine the lovable. 

Elaine, the lily maid of Astolat." 

As snnbeams U) the rose, Ehiine to love: 

A holy emblem of the saeredness 

Of woman's love : a li\ iiig song so sweet 

More sturdy harmonies toward silence bend 

And list with raptures of deliglit and ])raise : 

A fanc\', yet a h\iiig thing, a thought 

And yet a life that gives such worth to lo\e 

It }>roves love's guardian angel, while the blush 

Of shame hides fickle, false and skeptic souls. 

All praise to him who gives thee birth. I^laine, 

Whose harp brings gladness to so many souls. 

Whose song tells honest hearts the wortli of love, 

\Vho gives the world thy voice, as music ra 

That far more softly •' on the spirit lies 

Than tired e)e-lids upon tired eyes." 

Elaine, oft to the musings of the soul 

Thou art the ilear companion, comfort, guide, 

So true and gentle, fair and loxable. 

So patient, meek, ennoblmg, if there live 

A seed of goodness in mankind thy soul 

Will quicken it to life. 



ire, 



And man lives on, 
Well blessed with memories, but oft in hope, 
Some fate would make thee mortal, let thee live 
As pure in life as in the spirit, thought 
Or fancy that ideal worth doth give 
To thee. 

As mem'ry dwells on some dear friend 
Or loved one true by distance banished far 
From view, fond thoughts so well allied to hopes 
Of quick reunion that the mind betrays 
The eye, reveals the absent in the flesh, 
So fancy plays a welcome trick to cheer 
The senses, when upon the stage of life 
Appears Elaine, the fair, the lovable, 
Elaine, the lily maid of Astolat. 
As many humble blossoms flower along 
The wayside, often unobserved, unknown 
To those who most should prize them, but which 
have 

A store of sentiment and fragrance still 
As pure as greater blossoms, and when bound 
With greater tend to give them added worth. 
So doth a humble poet,* young in years. 
And grateful to the elder for his grand 



* George Parsons Lathrop, whose dainty play of "Elaine," based on 
Tennyson's idyl, suggested these verses. 



Ideal, lend a higher moral force, 
An added charm, a greater worth to make 
This pure and fair and tender fancy live 
An earnest of that crown of man's estate, 
A woman's love. 

These are vain types : the great 
Sir Lancelot, for her most high of men. 
Who thinks in humbleness that in him dwells 
No greatness, save it be some far-off touch ^ 
Of greatness to know well he is not great : 
And Guinevere, the beautiful, who loves 
Sir Lancelot, the valiant knight, all clothed 
In samite robes, a queen of beauty rare, 
Whose face and form might well move men from 

love 
To passion, aye, a queen of beauty loved 
And loving in an open shame : a queen 
Of beauty, one whose radiant eyes of blue 
Might well undo for men their better thoughts, 
A3^e, men as strong, as weak as Lancelot : 
A queen of beauty, who, self-loving, thinks 
He is all fault who hath no fault at all. 
For who loves her must have a touch of earth. 
There is a Llanyd, too, a wilful soul. 
Who mocks at love the while she knows she loves. 
And a Roselle is there who prizes more 

13 



Than kniglitly lo\e the hiring tlasli of gems. 

These are hut mortal lo\es : Thine is tlie dream 

Of heaven : a self ohlixion. not death. 

Elaine, thou art a nol)le jo}- to all 

Who in their wakeful dreams ideals lind 

To rol) tliis eartli of all its earthiness. 

" A thing between an angel and a tiower." 

^lan looks upon thy sunlit eyes and finds 

A touch of hea\-en ; to hear thy tearful \'oicc 

Is to give ear to saddened music, strange, 

Seraphic, too, for 'tis the food of love. 

Thy sad and sorrowed soul doth hover near, 

And in thy light is found a jo\- as 't were 

A rainbow gladdening with its beaut}' fair, 

And saddening that so (juic Id}- it grows faint 

And pales awa}-, though man knows well 'tis yet 

The glorious s} inbol of a ])romise made 

B}' hea\en to eartli. .\s on the sombre barge 

The altar of th}- lo\e, thou liest clothed 

In virgin white, adown the living stream 

Borne statel}. tlioii. in heart-touched silence, dost 

A noble proof impart that in thy death 

The lo\e that woman has for man has been 

So purified that childhoocrs pra^•ers are not 

More pure, more sacred in the eyes of God. 

Elaine, thy life a boon, a sadness sweet 

M 



To all on earth, thy death a holy joy 

In heaven. The richness of thy gift to man 

Thou knowest well, as longing minds who seek 

Ideals lofty, know their toil is not 

For many ignorant, who think that they 

Are wise, but for the few, who wise, confess 

Their ignorance. Such souls thou hast inspired 

Anew, uplifted high to noble aims 

And deeds. They feel thy influence as doth 

Sir Lancelot, for he becomes through thee 

A holy man. Thy mission is fulfilled! 

Oh! fair Elaine, in fancy and ideal, 

Oh! fair Elaine, in truth and life, the two 

So purely wedded in immortal soul, 

The poet, thy creator, hath all love 

Of those who feel and know the misty tears 

Of sorrow and of joy, as rainbows tell 

Alike of sunshine and of clouds. 



15 



I 



at 3cautu'5 Coucf?. 



TO E. W. S. 

How dear and handsome plain and simple things 
are made, 

When touched by hands of beauty and of art. 
A simple band in beauteous form may be arrayed, 

To cause the praise of mind and joy of heart, 
As village brooks, though small, may great and 
famous be, 

When poets music catch from dimpling rill. 
The great Materna gave a silken band to me. 

Its beauty rare was added by your skill ; 
You two in life's great opera practice noble art, — 

Both may from minstrel grateful praise command. 
She gains a queenly triumph from the vocal part, 

While you with equal grace — adorn the bajid. 



17 



In winter time I drink and sing 

For jo}' that spring is near ; 
I drink again when comes mild spring, 

For joy that he is here. 

—From Mirza Schaffy. 



19 



mia Stella. 



As oft a weary wanderer has strayed 

Through deserts of misfortune, pain and grief, 
Assailed by sands of sorrow, all belief 
In human bliss by misery's tears unmade, 
So wandered I, distressed, without a guide 

To show the course where life and duty lay, — 
Save for a feeble gleam through mist}' gray, — 
In doubt if any feeling could abide 

Within the world to make me blissful here 
And give me peace and happiness above : 
When shot from heaven's battlements a star. 
I wished : "Oh, that I might be happy." Far, 
So far away did seem the boon so dear. 
Then you I met. I found new life in love. 



CI)e IHysttc Poice. 

"Who called Pauline?" "Who called Pauline ?' 

The flowers, dropped flowers, thy silent friends 

That thrived and blossomed sweet and pure 

And tender as thyself, Pauline. 

Thy mem'ry gone, thy mind a blank, 

Thy love sought that of Flora, chaste. 

The blushing rose its love declared, 

The pansy gave thee all its thoughts, 

The violets, blue and white, made show 

Of love and modesty. Then came 

The periwinkle, bearing sweet 

Remembrances. " Forget-me-not," 

In accents clear, but soft and low. 

Was whispered, when syringa's voice 

Proclaimed fond memory's return, 

Thus flooding all thy soul with peace. 

The flowers, fair one, had called Pauline. 

They saw their beauties in thy grace 

And caught new life from thy dear face. 



23 



d 3trtl]bay (greeting, 

I hope, sweet friend, thou wilt be pleased to know 
That in a distant land there dwelleth one 
Whose thoughts reach out, on this thy natal day, 
To thee, for whom another symphony 
Of time is to begin ; its music rare 
To be attuned to noble deeds, to thought, 
To love, to kindliness, to friendship, faith. 

Old Father Time the sole composer is 
Whose constant music, sad or joyful, man 
Perforce doth hear. The noblest orchestra 
Is nature, while the life of every man 
Is aye a voice to full completeness give 
The master harmony divine, sublime. 
Each life affects, so grandly swells the theme, 
One other life, or more, and they self-hear 
Their song who sing for thee. The tones of thy 
Soft speaking are so pure, so sweet, so true 
That they make consonance with all who sing, 
Yet hear their truest echo in thy heart. 



25 



On this, the day that first th}' voice was heard, 
Thy parents, brothers, sisters, friends give joy 
And bless thy name. They ask of Him who tunes 
The vasty, clamoring sea, that thy sweet speech 
May long be heard on earth to gladden hearts 
And bring delight and love, content and peace ; 
That in thy chosen path thy every step 
May lead to victory ; that all thy life 
May be a melody of health, of grace, 
A harmony of perfect happiness. 




26 



Co a Debutante. 



If flowers of spring possess the virtue rare, 
To glad the mind and deck the fair, 

And fame and fortune tempt to linger near 
The favored few they love to cheer, 

Then these few buds will prove the s5mibols true, 
That Hopes fulfilled will smile on you. 



27 



dn Zbcal ^cast 



I have no need of bills of fare, 

That at the banquet fill a space, 
For viands rich or vintage rare 

Within my thoughts can find no place, 
When I am near thee, lady fair, 

So full of wit, of charm, of grace ; 
For then I feast upon thine eyes, 

And drink delights of Paradise. 



29 



after tl}c 5ete. 

A ribbon blue, 
Of dainty hue, 

Reminds me of the pleasure, 
That once I had, 
When moments glad, 

Gave joy to hours of leisure. 
May this frail band, 
That from your hand 

I had as priceless treasure, 
Still prove the bond, 
Of friendship fond, 

That time can never measure. 



31 



3nsptration. 



A poet pined for happiness, some ray 
Of inspiration pure, to glad his heart 

That long had been oppressed and oft astray 

From Faith and Hope that play so great a part 

In life's strange tragedy. He asked for light 
To speed the shadows from his path so sad. 

He longed for some dear comrade to make bright 
His mind and make his grievous senses glad. 

He sang his wishes to the stars, that they 

Might send him peace and joy and loving voice 

To lead him where content and pleasure stay, 
Where love doth dwell and make the heart rejoice. 

The stars were silent, but an angel fair 

Was sent to earth to bring the poet peace. 

The angel was a woman pure. — His prayer 
Is answered and his soul has found release. 



33 



Thou art the woman helpful, fair, the one 

Whose beauty joys his heart and bids him write 

Ideal thoughts and songs of praise, though none 
So rich thy grace, thy glory to requite. 

Thy soul-lit eyes give lustre to his life, 

The sound of thy sweet voice is music rare, 

Thy gentle spirit fills his thoughts, and strife 
Is exiled far. To him the world is fair. 

Thou art his inspiration and his star, 

His guardian angel, his ideal fond, 
That heard his griefs and pinings from afar 

And came to bring him bliss in Love's strong bond. 



I 



m 




34 



Via Pitcc. 



A life is like an ocean wide, the years 

Are but the ships that bear us into port, 
The goal, the hoped-for haven where resort 

The souls who know nor pain, nor strife, nor tears. 

To day you step upon a new-made craft. 

That swifter still must bound above the sea. 
Than that abandoned to the waves, to be 

Henceforth a dream through which you wept and 
laughed. 

Your friends sail on and sing in joy to you, 

And hail you with all greetings of delight ; 
They hope your voyage ever may be bright 

With nature's gifts, with love to glad the view. 

May calm, content and peace on you attend, 

And long and happy life have tranquil end. 



35 



life's Beacons, 



Men are as sailors on a darkened sea 

Where winds and waves as enemies contend 
To keep them from the Land of Light, the end. 

Where all is peace, where souls from storms are free. 

Each newer beacon 'long the wid'ning shore 
Is hailed with gladness for a danger past — 
And brightest hopes invite us till the last, 

When Hope itself assures us hope is o'er. 

You pass another beacon light to-day, 

And all serene of heart lend fearless ear 

To roar of rushing waves that yet give cheer, 

For in their murmurings they seem to say : 

What though your bark be tempest-tossed, in 
peace 

'Twill ride the storm, till life shall find surcease. 



37 



1 



(£t]ange. 



The silver spring to golden summer turns, 

To leaden winter bronzed autumn pales, 

While man in blindness struggles through the night, 

Until in heaven he gains the jeweled crown 

That glows with gracious light of living day. 



39 



2TIy Silper Drinking S^^^^^ 

Whenever you and I may meet again, 
Midst gayest pleasures or in deepest pain, 

And you should chance to ask 
If absence long has held your friend still true, 
I'd firmly answer ''Yes," and bring to view 

My silver drinking flask. 

My friend so fair, 1 ever think of you, 

And seek for words of thanks that are 3'our due, 

Thougli easy is the task 
Imposed on Friendship fond by Memory dear. 
'Tis sweet to greet the absent with the cheer 

That fills my drinking flask. 

Thus oft when I am lone, when I am sad. 

And sorrow chills the heart that once was glad, 

O'er grief I draw the mask 
That knows no pain, and hides all trace of strife. 
For then I live again, and bless the life 

Born in my drinking flask. 



41 



More oft I feel a silent, tender joy, 

That no despair, no grief can e'er destroy. 

For then I humbl}' bask 
Within the friendly sunshine of a face 
That first taught me to know and prize the place 

That holds my drinking flask. 
Whate'er my lot when you are far from here, 
Til ever hold your worth, your friendship dear, 

And from Joy's richest cask, 
I'll pour life's gayest pleasures unto you, 
And drink to bless the hand that brought to view 

My silver drinking flask. 



42 



(Brace. 



I know thee not as I would know thee Grace, 

And yet my knowing heart is rich with thee: 
It holds thy truth, thy worth, thy beauty, free 

And fair as guiding stars eyes mortal trace. 

It turns to thee and yearns upon thy face 
So radiant pure, with eyes of ecstacy 
Entreats thy soulful gaze to shine on me 

And teach my love to find in thine a place. 

Oh, lady fair, thy name I fain would write 

With stars on firmaments, for worlds to see 
And know that all my thoughts are e'er of thee. 

That I my solace seek in such sweet light. 

My heart may not be free, unless thy face 

Shall light its path to thee, to share thy grace. 



43 



Ctbclaibc. 

UPON HER EIGHTH BIRTHDAY. 

Come, little sunshine, let me sing to thee 
That gladdened day when first thou shone on earth. 
Thy birthday, child, that sent thee fair, to be 
Sweet messenger of sun, and love and mirth. 

Sunbeam Adelaide ! 
We mortal kind to God our blessings give ; 
He makes this earth a heavenly Paradise, 
Where unseen angels sing and flowers thrive, 
By sunshine graced, illumed by children's eyes, 

Oh, fair Adelaide ! 
How hopeless, faithless, frail would man appear 
Heard he no angels in temptation's hours : 
How desolate were this terrestrial sphere, 
Unblest by sunshine, children, or by flowers, 

Like thee, Adelaide ! 
To-day I greet thee as an earthly grace, 
As child, as angel, sunshine and as flower ; 
I stand before the glory of thy face 
And know in innocence heaven's holy power, 

Saint-born Adelaide ! 

45 



Oh, dainty bud of May, 'neath love's warm beam, 
So bright with nature's modesty, so fair 
In youthful innocence, thou art a dream 
Of truth, of purit}^, a promise rare, 

May-flower Adelaide I 
Oh happy child, thou little siren dear, 
To lure both old and young with jo3'ful song, 
As though its tender melodies you hear 
In echoes of some far-off spirit throng, 

Song-child Adelaide ! 
Oh little angel, happy as the spring. 
As tender as the sunbeam, bright and gay, 
Long may thou live thy mother's name to sing, 
To cheer her life and ours with songs of May, 

Angel Adelaide ! 
May all thy days be melody and mirth. 
Or else, as night's dew comforteth the flowers, 
May thy life's sunlight have more prized worth 
For beaming through the tears of summer shower^, 

Joyous Adelaide 1 



46 



May 29, 1888. 

The years are naught but ceaseless streams that 

flow 
Into the ocean of eternity. 
Earth's children are but heart-led wanderers 
That through life's wonderland from stream to 

stream 
Haste on in paths that ne'er ma}^ be retraced. 
The rivulets of childhood safely crossed, — 
Two maidens, fair with springtime hope and love. 
Approach a brook whose gentle song doth swell 
In consonance with nature's choristers: 
" Oh maidens, list unto my song of hope. 
Of jo}^ of sorrow, innocence and love. 
This forest-wild is rich in living streams, 
For Hope to fear, and Mem'ry feast upon. 
The rivulets that sang to you of glee 
And bade good cheer attend midst thorns and flowers. 
Ne'er knew such joy, such strength, such faith as I, 
Who flow between the future and the past, 
'Tween joys of spring and love of summer days 
That hasten on by autumn cares pursued, 
Oft forced to banishment by winter's tears, 

•47 



Each stronger stream doth greater dangers bring, 
Before their awful power I am as naught. 



And 



th. 



le better nurse your hopes 
And let your fancies thrive in their embrace, 
Ne'er will the}' sing such boundless ecstacy 
As I, to Hower your path and bless your days. 
Like you, I am on changeful journey bound, 
And ev'ry leap o'er rocks and pebbles tends 
To dangers of which 3'esterda}' was dumb. 
In happy, merry mood I rush along 
And laugh and sing till Silence kills my song. 
E'er long at rest on ocean's breast I'll be, 
A pearl of water in the jeweled sea. 
Oh pause, if pause you can, to learn of spring, 
Of poesy, of joy, of youth, of love, 
The living glory of their wedded faith : 
For spring is poesy: and poes\' 
Is joy : and joy is youth : and youth is love ; 
But love of earthly boons is mightiest. 
'Tis spring and poesy, and joy and youth. 
With love in exile spring will never smile, 
When love is dead fond poesy is dumb, 
Not thrilled by love joy ne'er its blossom finds. 
Deprived of love, our youth will never bloom. 
Now speed along, oh, maidens fair, with love 
To cheer you on, with blessings from the brook." 



48 



CI]e language of tl^e f^eart 

ADAPTED FROM JEAN PAUL. 
«*» 

On high Olympus' brow reigns Jupiter : 

Within his grasp the world, the fate of man, 

His sceptre making human destinies. 

On sunlit waves of space there floats to him 

In modest stateliness, a spirit fair, 

The guardian angel of the sentiment 

In humankind, the holier aims of man. 

The angel prays : " Oh, Heavenly Father, lend 

Thy people poor the boon of richer speech, 

A language that will full expression give 

Unto their joy, their sorrows and their love." 

Thus answers Jupiter : " Have not I blest 

Them with the tender tear, the tear of joy, 

Of sorrow and of love? " The angel pleads : 

" Not e'en the tear can give the heart a voice. 

Oh, Father Heavenly, give thy earthly sons 

A speech to sigh of longing infinite, 

Of mem'ries of the little morning star 

That shed its guiding light o'er childhood's paths, 

A language giving voice unto the glow 

.49 



Of youth's aurora, golden, heaven-sent, 

A language speaking for white winter's sage 

As bright and high above the vanished sun 

Appear the golden, evening clouds, that tell . 

Of life immortal. Give the human heart 

A language new, oh, Father Heavenly." 

In realms of spheres a joj^ous song is heard, 

Ecstatic, soul-inspiring and serene. 

All nature sighs in blissful thankfulness; 

Then Jove with smiling front commands his child, 

"Descend to earth, thou hoi}' one, teach man 

Thy song," and wafts the Muse of vSong to earth. 

She blessed mankind and taught the glorious tones 

With which the human heart ma}' voice the gods. 



^ 



50 



^lorine. 



As knights in olden time went forth to fight 

For crowns of war, and won the world's applause, 
Whose echoes told of triumph in a cause 

That gave to honor strength, and blessed the right, 

So I will battle but in moral might. 

My sword a song of thee that nations pause 

To hear ; ni}^ shield ni}^ faith in thee, whose laws 

Shall lead the world from darkness into light. 

My love for thee shall be my helmet strong. 

Then will I sing the glory of thy name, 

Thy grace, thy beauty and nobility. 

Then will the world find peace in love and song 
By thee inspired. The heavens will jo}- proclaim, 
And laurels won shall bring thee ecstacy. 



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